Family Fun-Time: Make Cooking a Family Affair
Article written by Katie Taylor, UNL Graduate Student

Make 2012 a year filled with family time! Make Cooking a Family Affair is one part of a five part Family Fun-Time series that you will see throughout the year. The Family Fun-Time series focuses on how the whole family can be involved and practice healthy habits, while having fun at the same time.

Cooking and family time are often thought of as two separate activities, but you can easily combine the two. Children love helping in the kitchen! Include children in the planning and preparation of meals and snacks for the family. The more they help, the more likely they are to eat the foods they prepare. Cooking as a family is the perfect way to try new foods, teach family recipes, develop cooking skills, learn about food safety, and have fun!

Children are able to help out with a variety of tasks in the kitchen, but keep those tasks age-appropriate. Children will develop these skills at their own pace, so keep them involved and provide encouragement along the way.

Here are age-appropriate tasks for children in the kitchen.

At age 2, children are learning to use the large muscles of their arms.
• Bring ingredients from one place to another
• Wipe table tops
• Hand items such as plastic utensils and grocery items to an adult to use or put away
• Place things in the trash
• Help “read” a cookbook by turning the page
• Dump dry ingredients into a large bowl
• Play with plastic utensils
• Scrub vegetables and fruits
• Tear lettuce or greens
• Snap fresh green beans
• Dip vegetables and fruits
• Make “faces” out of pieces of vegetables and fruits

At age 3, children are learning to use their hands.
*Can do what 2 year olds do, plus…
• Talk about cooking
• Name and count foods
• Wrap potatoes in foil for baking
• Knead and shape yeast dough
• Pour liquids and dry ingredients
• Stir ingredients and batters (such as pancake and muffin batters)
• Shake liquids in covered container
• Spread soft spreads like peanut butter or jelly on bread
• Squeeze citrus fruits
• Scoop mashed potatoes
• Help assemble a home-made pizza

At age 4, children are learning to control smaller muscles in their hands and fingers.
*Can do what 2 & 3 year olds do, plus…
• Set the table
• Move hands to form round shapes like bread dough
• Cut parsley or green onions with dull scissors
• Mash bananas using fork
• Crack eggs
• Peel some fruits like oranges and bananas
• Measure dry ingredients
• Help make sandwiches and tossed salads

At age 5, children want to be very hands-on!
*Can do what 2, 3, & 4 year olds do, plus…
• Measure liquid ingredients
• Cut soft fruits with a dull knife
• Peel carrots with a vegetable peeler

Every time you cook is an opportunity to teach good food safety practices, cooks of all ages should always wash their hands with soap and warm water before cooking.

Cooking as a family, especially with young children can get a bit messy and difficult. Have everyone help clean up, and remember, learning takes time so be patient.

Sources: USDA MyPyramid for Preschoolers
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/preschoolers/HealthyHabits/PickyEaters/kitchenactivities.html
National Network for Child Care
http://www.nncc.org/Curriculum/fc46_cook.kids.html
UNL Food: Food, Nutrition, & Health
http://food.unl.edu/web/fnh/family-time